Folding table with locking mechanism
AssigneeLifetime Products, Inc.
InventorsJu Young Jin, Cai Yixian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A foldable table may include a table top and legs that are movable between an extended position and a collapsed position. The table top may include a first section and a second section that are connected by a hinge assembly. A locking member may be sized and configured to lock the hinge assembly in a fixed position. Advantageously, moving the legs between the extended and collapsed positions may cause the locking mechanism to move between the locked and unlocked positions. Thus, when the legs are in the extended position and the locking mechanism is in the locked position, the table top may be secured in the unfolded position.
Claims20
A locking mechanism for a folding table, the folding table including a table top and at least one support structure sized and configured to support the table top above a surface, the support structure movable between a use position and a collapsed position, the locking mechanism comprising:
- a rotatable member connected to the table top, the rotatable member rotatable between a first position and a second position;
- a cross brace sized and configured to connect the rotatable member to a support structure, the rotatable member sized and configured to move between the first and second positions when the support structure is moved between the use and collapsed positions;
- a connecting member rotatably coupled to the rotatable member;
- and
- a locking member connected to the connecting member, the locking member movable between a locked position to secure the folding table in a fixed position and an unlocked position to allow the table to be folded and unfolded;
- wherein the cross brace is connected to the rotatable member in a fixed position so that movement of the cross brace between a collapsed position and an extended position causes rotation of the rotatable member between the first and second positions;
- and
- wherein rotation of the rotatable member between the first and second positions causes the locking member to move between the locked and unlocked positions.
A locking mechanism for a fold-in-half table, the fold-in-half table including a table top with a first section and a second section, a hinge assembly connecting the first section and the second section of the table top, and at least one support structure sized and configured to support the table top above a surface, the support structure movable between a use position and a collapsed position, the locking mechanism comprising:
- a central cross member rotatably connected to the table top, the central cross member rotatable between a first position and a second position relative to the table top;
- a cross brace connecting the rotatable central cross member to a support structure, the rotatable central cross member sized and configured to move between the first and second positions when the support structure is moved between the use and collapsed positions;
- a first gear connected to the rotatable central cross member;
- a second gear coupled to the first gear;
- a connecting member coupled to the second gear;
- and
- a locking member connected to the connecting member, the locking member movable between a locked position to secure the fold-in-half table in a fixed position and an unlocked position to allow the fold-in-half table to be folded and unfolded;
- wherein the cross brace is connected to the rotatable central cross member in a fixed position so that movement of the cross brace between a collapsed position and an extended position causes rotation of the rotatable central cross member between the first and second positions;
- and
- wherein rotation of the rotatable central cross member between the first and second positions causes the locking member to move between the locked and unlocked positions.
A locking mechanism for a folding table, the folding table including a table top with a first section and a second section, a hinge assembly connecting the first section and the second section of the table top, a support structure sized and configured to support the table top above a surface, the support structure movable between a use position and a collapsed position relative to the table top, a cross brace connected to the support structure, the locking mechanism comprising:
- a rotatable member;
- a connecting member rotatably coupled to the rotatable member;
- and
- a locking member connected to the connecting member, the locking member movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;
- wherein the cross brace is connected to the rotatable member and movement of the cross brace rotates the rotatable member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.